Biological Science Technician Experience | F17AS00437

Opportunity Information: Apply for F17AS00437

The "Biological Science Technician Experience" grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F17AS00437) is a Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service funding program designed to support hands-on, experiential employment for student biological science technicians working across multiple National Wildlife Refuges in the Pacific Islands. The core purpose is workforce development through real field and project experience, placing students in roles that directly contribute to conservation, habitat restoration, and research activities that align with refuge management needs. In practical terms, the opportunity is meant to put students into day-to-day technical work environments where they can build applied skills while helping advance on-the-ground natural resource priorities in the Pacific region.

This opportunity was offered as a discretionary funding program using a Cooperative Agreement as the primary funding instrument. That format typically indicates an expectation of substantial involvement or collaboration between the federal agency and the recipient during project implementation, rather than a simple pass-through award with minimal federal engagement. The funding falls under multiple activity areas, reflecting the blended nature of the work: education and training, employment and labor experience, environmental and natural resource stewardship, regional development, and science and technology research and development. The listing is associated with CFDA (now commonly referenced through Assistance Listings) number 15.676, which corresponds to Fish and Wildlife Service programs.

Eligibility was described as unrestricted, meaning the competition was open to a broad range of applicant types, subject to any clarifications that may have been included in an additional eligibility section of the full announcement. The program anticipated making about five awards, with an award ceiling of $313,500, indicating the maximum expected amount per award under this opportunity. Key dates show the announcement was created on August 31, 2017, with an original closing date of September 7, 2017, suggesting a short application window.

The notice also states that "THE RECIPIENT HAS BEEN SELECTED," which signals that, as of the posting or update captured in the source data, the selection decision had already been made and the opportunity was no longer open for competition. Overall, the grant can be understood as a targeted investment in training the next generation of conservation and wildlife professionals by funding paid student technician positions that support refuge-based conservation, restoration, and research work across the Pacific Islands National Wildlife Refuge system.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the education, employment, labor and training, environment, natural resources, regional development, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Biological Science Technician Experience" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.676.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 31, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 07, 2017 THE RECIPIENT HAS BEEN SELECTED. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $313,500.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for F17AS00437

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: